Sockie Mom is gone. Our feral cat that we have fed for over ten years died last night.
She and another feral had kittens under my front steps about ten years ago. It was very odd to us that two females shared the same "nest" and apparently both nursed all of the kittens. We gave all of the kittens but two away and had our own little feral colony for a while. They dropped out, one by one, three from natural causes and one I believe was taken by a Coyote. Old Socks had a good life, she only left our front porch for hunting or going to the bathroom. My wife has always tended to her, she had a heated house and she ate well. She appeared to be healthy and happy up to the end, but we knew it was coming. It was only in the last several months that she started allowing anyone to pet her, and that on a very limited basis. I always referred to her as "that old nasty cat", but I will miss her (but I won't admit it).
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He was with a bunch of kittens we had neutered and released. He’s the only one left. He comes up on my second floor deck every night I have a little house there for him. And I worry 11 years is a long time for an outdoor cat. He has let me pet him for years now but he’s still a little skittish and won’t really come inside.I have a cat indoors that actually came to me on my deck a few years ago. He has been owned before obviously. So he stays inside now Crazy how we love our kitties. 
you have my condolences
General discussion must have a different meaning in DU speak. Perhaps per your directive you should be called the politics and current event forum.
gen·er·al
/ˈjen(ə
rəl/
adjective
1.
affecting or concerning all or most people, places, or things; widespread.
"books of general interest"
Similar:
widespread
common
extensive
universal
wide
popular
public
mainstream
prevalent
prevailing
rife
established
well established
conventional
traditional
traditionalist
orthodox
accepted
But you can take solace in the fact you havee her and her descendants a far better life than they would have had otherwise and her spirit will still be with you. But it is a loss and it hurts.
The passing of an animal is far more difficult for me than that of a human, including relatives.
💔
that I'm taking to the JSPCA tomorrow. 
By the way it's not unusual for them to share the nest. I've observed baby stealing among feral cats and then watched them share duties. I've even seen both mothers resting on the same patio chair.
was, after she finished nursing her kittens, we trapped her and her partner and had them spayed. Socks did not like the trap, and I mean really did not like it: and I don't thing she ever forgave us for it.
Did I mention that she did not like being trapped? On the way to the vet, I thought we had something from a Stephen King novel in the back.
Last month, I had to put down our indoor/outdoor (when she wanted out) cat. She lived 25 years, and had a pretty easy life. Sometimes, I think I still hear her meow from the basement. She was doing fairly well, but one day, she had just come in from outside, made a horrible sounding meow, and fell over. I don't know exactly what happened, but I suspect her heart. Pain seemed to recede after a few minutes, but I figured it was time, and didn't want her to endure any more pain.
RIP